How The Drone Ban Has Hit The Work Of Filmmakers In The Picturesque Jammu & Kashmir

Shah Faisal Khan, 36, a film line producer in Kashmir was thrilled as he was expecting a good number of the shoots this year, but with the authorities ordering a ban on the use of drones, he doesn't know what the future holds for him.

¡°Our work has been severely hit since the news about the ban on the use of drones in Kashmir came out. Earlier, we used to get ten shoots at a time and now it has come down to four,¡± says Khan from Roaring Lions Production.

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¡°We had two drone operating boys in the team, but since this order was issued, they are now working as the production assistants. One can imagine the condition of the drone operators in the valley,¡± he says.

Give Permission On The Legal Grounds

Khan, the only Kashmiri line producer operating across India, says that at least authorities should allow the professional line producers to operate the drones. ¡°They should take the serial number of the drones, then all the necessary documents and in fact our passports too so as to get the permissions done. In case they still find any violation from our side, they can take action,¡± he says.

He says that Since the use of drones is not allowed in the valley, several shoots have already got a hit.

¡°I had two shoot lined up and they needed drone shots. I am not sure if that will be done or not. I also have Royal Enfield motorcycle shoot and they too need aerial shots. Now, the makers say they will climb the trees to capture those shots. Also, a 12 day shoot is coming up from 18th July, I don¡¯t know what I should tell them,¡± he said.

Shoots May Get Diverted To Other Places

Since there is a blanket ban on the use of drones in Kashmir, Khan believes that It will divert all the upcoming projects scheduled for Kashmir to other places. ¡°This looks like the filmmakers will now head towards Shimla, Manali and other mountainous regions to shoot Kashmir there. Our 50% work has been affected so far,¡± he said.

Tayab, a drone operator in Srinagar says, ¡°I regret that I have chosen this work. This time we were expecting better work as tourists and filmmakers had started visiting Kashmir but all the hopes have died now.¡±

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Miyan Imad-Ur-Rehman, a Vlogger from Srinagar who is popularly known by his social media name @ImadClicks says that Kashmir¡¯s actual beauty can be shown through the drone. ¡°Since the place is rich in mountains, rivers, lakes and trees, the original picture can be shown through a drone,¡± he said.

He said that three pre-wedding shoot bookings have been cancelled. ¡°The clients demand the use of drones which is impossible at the moment,¡± he said.

The social media content creators and filmmakers have given a boost to tourism in Kashmir by exploring many lesser-known places. These filmmakers say that often tourists from outside Kashmir text and meet them expressing how their content at social media platforms like Instagram has attracted them to visit Kashmir.

Mushtaaque Ali Ahmad Khan, a local filmmaker and cultural activist said that it is very unfortunate that the permission for using the drone cameras for film shootings and other videos has been banned by the government.

¡°It is a matter of huge inconvenience for filmmakers and cameramen using drones for their creativity. But at the same time I do realise the concerns of the government because security cannot be compromised at any cost. I request the government to devise a middle path so that things go smoothly on both sides,¡± he said.

Where is Single Window Clearance?

Mohammad Abdullah Lone, a line producer at Firdous- E Kashmir Productions told Indiatimes that use of Drone ban will hit the livelihood of the local line producers, who are making every effort to bring films back to Kashmir.

¡°We are at the receiving end without any fault. Not giving permissions to operate the drones will create insecurity among the actors and directors about the place,¡± he said.

J&K government has been making claims of setting up a single window clearance system for granting permission for shooting Bollywood movies in the valley, but nothing such happens on the ground.

¡°Firstly, we have to take the permission from the Tourism Department then approach the local Deputy Commissioner (DC) and he writes to the local Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) and then it is sent to SSP Security. Besides, we have to also take the permissions from the local Development authorities. It is truly a hectic process,¡± he says.

¡°Instead of introducing the film policy for Kashmir, authorities should first fix the loopholes like making a single window clearance system for the film shoots and also think of issuing the permissions to use drones,¡± he said.

What order says?

Authorities in Srinagar district on 3rd July banned storage, sale, possession, use and transport of unmanned aerial vehicles.

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An order issued by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar Mohammad Aijaz said, ¡°To secure aerial space near vital installations and highly populated areas it is imperative to discontinue the use of drones in all social and cultural gatherings to eliminate any risk of injury to life and damage to property¡±.

The order has been issued under section 144 of CrPc. The order says decentralised air space access has to be regulated in view of the recent incidents of misuse of drones posing threat to security infrastructure as reported by the media and other reliable sources.

¡°Directorate general of civil aviation has provided draft guidelines/standard operating protocol to regulate the use of drones in terms of weight classification, generation of unique identification number, height/altitude restrictions, speed restrictions, enforcement/panel action, etc,¡± the order said.

The order further reads that government departments using drones for mapping, surveys and surveillance in agricultural, environmental conservation and disaster mitigation sectors shall inform the local police station before undertaking any such activity in public interest.

Similarly, the restrictions were extended to other parts of the valley like Baramulla, Bandipora and Kupwara.

The move comes days after two explosions were reported from the Indian Air Force station in Jammu within minutes of each in an unprecedented unmanned attack, injuring two security personnel and damaging a building on June 27. Security forces said they thwarted a similar attack within 24 hours as they opened fire on unidentified drones hovering over the Kaluchak military base in Jammu. Several such sightings have been reported over military bases in the region.